KNYSNA NEWS - A resident of Dam-se-Bos, Greater Knysna, who is an RDP housing beneficiary, is "not allowed" to enter her home, along with five members of her family, in a dispute with the community for two years now.
Alida Kiewiets has been sent from pillar to post by the municipality, she has met with the mayor and ward councillors, as well as municipal officials – but is yet to make any sort of progress to get her house back, she says.
'Key given, then taken back'
Kiewiets explains that she applied for housing back in 2005, which was apparently only approved in 2014, when she was given a house number. But as soon as she received a key, she says, it was taken from her by a man named Wally at the municipality.
“I can't remember the exact reasons he gave for taking the house key. But since that day we were sent from one councillor to another, from one department to another. It was relentless.”
'Key given back again'
Eventually, they were given back the key, signed some papers, and were told that they could move in when they wanted to, she says.
But before this could happen, there were heavy rains during August 2016, which flooded the Wendy house in which they were temporarily staying.
“By that time, we already moved most of our furniture into the new house, so it was saved. But then residents of the area came to us and demanded we remove all the furniture because they were not going to allow us to live there anymore. We fought so hard to have a house, and when we were on the verge of moving in after finally getting one, the community refuses to allow us to enter our own home,” she says.
Eventually, they were forced to take their furniture out of the house.
Neighbours 'preventing' move
“Neighbours chased us away, locked the door and claimed the property,” says Kiewiets. She has ever since been prevented from moving in.
“I still have the keys to my house, and I wish to return. My family is squeezed into a tiny Wendy house at the moment – how are we supposed to live like this?”
Kiewiets says they called the police, and the incident was witnessed by councillors, but no one is prepared to do anything to help them.
“All we are being told is that the municipality is busy with lawyers but in actual fact, the municipality is just not helping me and my family. We are still having so-called meetings with the municipality, but in terms of progress, there's none.”
Knysna Municipality was asked to respond, and the following comment was received: “Due to the sensitive nature of the matter, the relevant department is in the process to convene a round-table discussion with all parties involved, in order to find a mutually beneficial resolution to the issue at hand.”
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